The climate crisis disproportionately affects women and girls. According to UN Women, climate change threatens their livelihoods, health, safety, and security worldwide. Women often lack access to essential resources like healthcare and agriculture, which they rely on more heavily. Yet, despite bearing the brunt of climate impacts, women’s voices and perspectives remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces.
At GRP, we recognise the invaluable contributions women and girls bring in advancing resilience, as well as the key roles they play and the perspectives they bring. Ensuring diversity at all levels—from local communities to global decision-making spaces—is essential for creating effective solutions that protect us all.
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, hear from some of the women in the GRP Secretariat as they share their thoughts on inclusion, leadership, and the power of women in shaping a more resilient and equitable future:
Equity, inclusivity, and diversity are the cornerstones of resilience. Women’s leadership in resilience-building ensures that solutions reflect the realities of all communities, driving more just, adaptive, and effective responses. Inclusive decision-making leads to systemic change, breaking barriers to equitable adaptation and ensuring no one is left behind. Anastasia Brainich, Policy Director
Inclusion can be a broad concept and therefore difficult to implement if we don't identify steps that we can take ourselves. As a woman of colour who is also in a leadership role, I acknowledge the privilege I have in terms of my position and positionality. I feel the responsibility of opening doors for younger women who will follow in the future, and making it easier for them as others who can before me have made it for me. Shuchi Vora, Head of Learning
Being in a leadership role has shown me that resilience and inclusion are deeply interconnected. Resilience is not only about bouncing back from challenges but about creating spaces where diverse voices are heard, valued, and empowered to contribute to solutions. By embracing inclusive decision-making, we foster more innovative, equitable, and sustainable outcomes—building stronger, more resilient systems that can withstand future challenges. June Kimaiyo, Programme Officer
Resilience is not just about systems and policies—it’s about people, relationships, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Being in leadership has taught me that true resilience is built when diverse voices, especially those historically excluded, are heard and valued. Inclusion is not an afterthought—it is the foundation of lasting change. Vilina Engheepi, Programmes and MEL officer
When women lead and take part in decision-making, better solutions emerge. Women don’t just shape solutions—we open doors for others to step forward, strengthening our communities for a more resilient future. Ida Gabrielsson, Communications Director
Core principles to consider in resilience building include justice, equity, and diversity. Research shows that women holding leadership positions- regardless of sector- tend to prioritise exactly that: inclusivity, empathy, social justice, and equality more than men. Therefore, having women in leadership positions is more crucial than ever in a world of increasing turbulence where we have seen setbacks in gender rights and inclusivity. Amanda Jonsson, Knowledge Officer
Ensuring that women from the Global South have a voice at the leadership level is essential to crafting solutions that truly serve those most affected by the climate crisis. Lived experiences offer a nuanced understanding of resilience and adaptation, leading to more equitable, context-driven strategies. Mumbi Sarah Kasumba, Communications Manager